Selected Works of Liang Shuming

Author: Chen Laiqing, Liang Shuming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: This book reviews the achievements of these 20th-century philosophical classics, with two points being particularly prominent: , the philosophical research of modern Chinese philosophy is invariably based on Western philosophy and its historical development as a reference background. It goes without saying that scholars who returned from studying abroad in Europe and America; even scholars with strong traditional characteristics, such as Liang Shuming and Xiong Shili, were deeply influenced by Western philosophical concepts. Western philosophy is an exquisite representation of rational analysis and construction in human wisdom. Although the form of Western philosophy is special, many of the discussions within it are universal. While the discourse of Western philosophy is not the fundamental stipulation of what constitutes philosophy, it has become the foundation of the modern philosophical discipline. Studying Western philosophy can provide an important method with universal significance for researching other philosophies. In-depth understanding of Western philosophy and other philosophies in the world will promote our deeper understanding of our own philosophical traditions. Second, the creation of modern Chinese philosophical systems must establish a positive connection with the resources of traditional Chinese philosophy. As Chen Yinke said, "I suspect that if China is able to faithfully introduce the thoughts of North America or Eastern Europe in the future, the result will be no different from the Yogacara philosophy of Xuanzang," which could neither occupy a high position in the history of our thought nor ultimately persist. Those who could truly achieve systematic philosophical thought and make original contributions must, on one hand, absorb and introduce external doctrines, while on the other hand, not forget the position of their own nation. These two attitudes, which are both contrary and complementary, are the true spirit of Taoism, the old path of Neo-Confucianism, and what two thousand years of intellectual contact between our nation and other nations has revealed. Xiong Shili's New Yi Studies, Liang Shuming's Neo-Confucianism, Feng Youlan's New Rationalism, He Lin's New Mindology, Jin Yulan's New Realism, and Zhang Dainian's New Materialism all consciously connect to classical Chinese philosophy to varying degrees and integrate with the practical aspects of Chinese cultural traditions. All the Chinese philosophers who achieved significant success in constructing philosophical systems in the 20th century were like this. The selection of this series prioritizes the highlighting of their philosophical thoughts, giving equal weight to famous works and notable essays. The selection aims to differ from existing collections, reflecting the editor's unique perspective and arrangement, thereby making this series distinctive in highlighting the contributions of these scholars to the creation and research of 20th-century Chinese philosophy, while also offering the editor's unique interpretations. In the past two decades, academic circles in mainland China have made remarkable achievements in researching contemporary Neo-Confucianism. This research began with China's reform and opening-up. After the doors were opened, scholars from overseas, primarily overseas Chinese scholars, followed by scholars from Hong Kong and Taiwan, came to mainland China to lecture. Subsequently, their papers and works were gradually introduced. Of course, this is only an external factor. The internal reason lies in the reflection of mainland scholars on the harm caused by the May Fourth Movement to "Cultural Revolution" to traditional culture and the cultural heritage of our nation, leading to a re-examination of the relationship between tradition and modernity. Liang Shuming (1893—1988), originally named Huan Ding, styled Shouming, was from Guilin, Guangxi, and was born in Beijing. He was a modern Chinese scholar, educator, and advocate of the rural construction movement. He proposed three principles for education: school education and social education are inseparable; education should extend to adulthood and even lifelong learning; and education should fulfill its role in advancing cultural transformation and social progress. He graduated from Beijing Shuntian Middle School in his early years. Since 1918, he served as a philosophy professor at Peking University. During the May Fourth Movement, he promoted the "Life Philosophy." In 1921, he published his famous work "Eastern and Western Cultures and Their Philosophies." In 1928, he took over the management of Guangzhou Middle School to prepare for the establishment of the Rural Governance Institute. During this period, he served as a secretary of the Ministry of Justice of the Nanjing National Government, a member of the Guangzhou Political Committee of the Kuomintang, and the chairman of the Construction Committee of Guangdong Provincial Government. He submitted the "Proposal for Establishing the Rural Governance Institute" and the "Outline of the Pilot Plan" to the Kuomintang Central Committee, which was approved. He then edited the "Ten Lectures on Rural Governance" for the local gendarmerie in Guangzhou and engaged in "rural construction" activities. In 1929, he founded the "Village Governance Daily" in Beijing. In 1930, he established the Henan Rural Governance College in Huixian, Henan, and the Shandong Rural Governance Research Institute in Zouping, Shandong, publishing "Rural Governance." After the outbreak of the war of resistance, the rural construction movement was forced to cease. In 1938, he visited Yan'an and had multiple conversations with Mao Zedong. He served as a member of the National Political Council in each term. In 1941, he participated in the establishment of the China Democratic League and went to Hong Kong to oversee the publication of the organ "Guangming Daily." By the end of the year, Hong Kong fell, and he moved to Guangxi. In 1945, he served as the Secretary-General of the China Democratic League in Chongqing. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he served as a member and Standing Committee member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He passed away in Beijing in June 1988. His works include "An Introduction to Indian Philosophy," "Eastern and Western Cultures and Their Philosophies," "Theory of Rural Construction," "Collected Essays on Education by Liang Shuming," "Essentials of Chinese Culture," and "Post-Awakening of the Chinese National Self-Salvation Movement."